The genealogy of the Ford GT hardly requires an introduction, given its identity as one of the most iconic model lines in automotive lore. From the four-time Le Mans-winning GT40s of the 1960s, to the modern Eco-Boost powered GT hypercar that raced victoriously at Le Mans in 2016, Ford delivered a stylish and battle-tested winner that highlighted the ingenuity of American engineering and design.

Wedged in between these two historic bookends, Ford celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005 with the release of the GT, a spiritual successor to the legendary Ford GT40. The Ford GT entertained no thoughts of racing, but it faithfully updated the original GT40’s design with a 5.4-liter V-8 engine, weaving heritage-inspired styling cues throughout its coachwork. Production of the GT was limited to just over 4,000 examples, by the end of which Detroit had again demonstrated it could build a six-figure supercar as compelling as anything emerging from Italy or Germany. Having proven itself, a satisfied Ford was content to close the Ford GT program once production had concluded in 2006, and the name went dormant again for several years.

But enthusiasts are apt to dream, and before long Ford purists were speculating what the GT might have evolved into given a continued development program with adequate budget. In short, what sublime form might an immediate second-generation GT have taken?

As America’s most tenured licensed Ford dealer, Mr. Boeckmann was in a unique position to answer this question. Equally inspired by the idea of what the GT might have become, in the early 2010s he tasked the talented minds at Galpin Auto Sports with modifying a Ford GT into what would become Galpin’s first coach-built supercar—the GTR1.

A suitable donor car was found in chassis number 400769, a relatively low-mileage (under 6,000 miles), two-owner 2005 Ford GT that been delivered in April 2005 to Astoria Ford in Oregon, believed to have been purchased new by a resident of Idaho. Originally finished in Centennial White, the four-option GT was involved in an accident in September 2008 and later acquired by an Illinois resident with a salvage title in March 2009. After its acquisition by Galpin, the original body was removed and replaced with a custom design by Galpin Auto Sports. Realized in aluminum by the well-known Southern California firm Metalcrafters, the voluptuous new coachwork is five inches wider than a standard Ford GT, and is adorned with carbon fiber accents and jeweled headlamps. The interior was hand-trimmed in bright blue leather, while the dashboard was updated with a machined aluminum instrument cluster, while retaining the premium McIntosh sound system.

The chassis received numerous upgrades, including 20-inch HRE aluminum knock-off wheels shod with Pirelli P-Zero tires, Penske coil-over shocks, tubular control arms, and six-piston two-piece brakes with full-carbon rotors. Based on Formula 1 technology, the aviation-grade brake rotors are designed purely for performance, with no balancing ceramic material that would prolong the unit’s life at the compromise of power.

The engine was always one of the most important elements of the original Ford GT40, so the minds at Galpin knew something special would be required. The GT’s 5.4-liter V-8 was fitted with a twin-turbocharger setup, raising output to 1,024 horsepower and 739 pound-feet of torque, a significant upgrade from the stock GT’s performance figures of 550 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque.

In August 2013, in celebration of Galpin’s 60th year of customizing vehicles, they unveiled the GTR1 during Monterey Car Week. The car was officially introduced at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, and then subsequently presented on the concept car lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Galpin announced that the GTR1 was capable of exceeding 225 mph, putting the car in rare company for a road-based supercar, and plans were made to build no fewer than six cars, with the MSRP expected to exceed $1 million.

While satisfied with the top speed, Galpin remained keen on improving the 0-60 mph sprint time. When the GTR1 appeared a year later the engine had been changed, with the turbochargers being removed in favor of a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger with long-tube headers. In this configuration the engine developed slightly more power, now rated at 1,058 horsepower. But the jump in torque was staggering, with the engine now reaching 992 pound-feet when fed with 110-octane fuel, a boost of over 250 pound-feet. This development allowed the car to break the three-second barrier, clocking in at a blistering 2.9 seconds to 60 mph from standstill. Autoblog’s Steven Ewing admitted to “laughing hysterically” when being pinned to the seat by the car’s outrageous torque during a test drive.

Following Ford's January 2015 announcement of a third-generation GT, interest naturally shifted toward the upcoming model. Despite the GTR1’s stunning design and monumental performance figures, this example was ultimately the only one ever built.

Offered publicly for the very first time, the Galpin GTR1 is a true one-of-one masterpiece. As the only example ever produced by the legendary Galpin Auto Sports, it delivers breathtaking performance rivaling that of other period luminaries, such as the Bugatti Veyron, Carrera GT, and Ferrari LaFerrari. This represents an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a “Galpinized” American hypercar, one that perfectly embodies the famous Galpin motto, “If you can dream it, we can build it!”